Published on 1 February 2026

Climate change, peace and security

Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century and is increasingly threatening peace and international security. Among other things, rising temperatures or droughts can lead to fluctuating food prices and intensify competition for natural resources. This can threaten livelihoods and displace people, sometimes with devastating humanitarian consequences.

Ruins of a coastal village in the Philippines, destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Climate change is an important aspect of Switzerland's work in the areas of humanitarian diplomacy and human security, with a focus on multilateral processes, prevention and peacebuilding.

During its term on the UN Security Council in 2023–24, Switzerland defined climate change and its impact on human security as one of its four priorities.

It advocated that the Security Council recognise the risks to peace and security posed by climate change, formulate solutions and take these into account in its missions.

Switzerland also endeavoured to establish links with other important goals of its foreign policy, including protection for civilians, disaster risk reduction, conflict prevention and protection against violent extremism.

Another concern was to increase the involvement of science, civil society and the expertise of International Geneva in finding solutions. This would complement the expertise of government actors and can, for example, drive forward the development and use of relevant instruments such as early warning systems. At the same time, data on environmental, climate and socio-economic factors should be improved and coordination between relevant organisations enhanced.

Contact

Humanitarian Diplomacy Section
State Secretariat STS-FDFA
Peace and Human Rights Division
Effingerstrasse 27
3003 Bern